Headlight unit for motor vehicles



Sept. 9, 1958 J. R. FERGUSON HEADLIGHT UNIT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OriginalFiled July 14, 1952 INVENTOR. James 1?. Fe

United States Patent C) HEADLIGHT UNIT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES James R.Ferguson, Bristol, Va., assignor of one-half to Bristol Steel & IronWorks, Inc., Bristol, Va.-Tenn., a corporation of Virginia Originalapplication July 14, 1952, Serial No. 298,706,

now Patent No. 2,744,209, dated May 1, 1956. Divided and thisapplication February 16, 1956, Serial No. 565,914

'8 Claims. (Cl. 313-114) This invention relates to a headlight unit forautomotive vehicles of the general type illustrated in the patents toRobert 0. Ferguson, Numbers 2,512,623 and 2,565,763, issued June 27,1950, and August 25, 1951, respectively; and'in application SerialNumber 298,706, filed July 14, 1952, now Patent Number 2,744,209,granted May 1, 1956, of which this application is a division.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a headlight unithaving a reflector for reflecting back the light beams of oncomingvehicles, which reflector is housed within the hermetically sealed spaceforming the interior of a sealed beam headlight unit. Assuming thateither or both of the headlights of a car equipped with the device ofthis invention havebeen extinguished, or that one of the filaments ofone or both of the lights has burned out, the beams of light from anapproaching vehicle will be partially reflected back to the driver ofsuch approaching vehicle. By this means the exact location of the carcan be readily determined even when approaching at considerable speedand the danger of a collision greatly lessened. Since the reflectingmaterial does not let light rays from the filaments pass directly to thelens, they will be reflected to and then from the sides of the casingand be diffused. Such diffused light is, according to the inventor whohas done much work along this line, much more effective in penetratingfog than the direct rays from the filaments.

Another object is to combine a reflector for oncoming headlight beamswith a fog protector, and associate these parts with the light sourcemeans, either by making them an integral part of the light source means,or by mounting these elements with the hermetically sealed interior ofthe unit in close association with the light source means.

A further object is to so locate a reflector of the type as set forthherein, in proper position with regard to the fog protector, the lightsource means and headlight lens, in order that none of these parts willinterfere with the proper function of one or more of the other parts,yet each will operate at maximum efliciency.

Other objects will appear hereinafter throughout the specification.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of the headlight unit with apart of the casing broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the combined reflector and fogprotector shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and S are views similar to Figure 2 showing diiferent formsof the combined reflector and fog protector.

Patented Sept. 9, 1958 "ice the casing projects into the casing andcarries the usual flattened as shown at 12, and mounted over and spacedfrom this flattened portion is a glass cap or plate 14 which isconnected by a circular wall 16 of the same material as the plate andfused to the front portion of the bulb. Each side of the glass cap orplate has a plurality of buttons projecting outwardly therefrom, theforwardly facing buttons being represented at 18 and the rearwardlyfacing buttons at 20. The rear face of the glass cap or plate includingthe buttons is covered by a coating or surface 22 of reflecting materialcomposed of chromium, nickel, aluminum or other reflecting materials oralloys thereof and forms a secondary reflector. This coating may beapplied by spraying, painting or other methods. The coating may also becomposed of foil. This invention is not concerned with the particularmaterial used as the secondary reflector providing it has the necessaryability to withstand the heat and pressure necessary to the manufactureof the bulb. While the coating described above has been designated asthe secondary reflector, it will be understood that the inner surface ofthe back wall of the casing constitutes the primary reflector. Thesecondary reflector because of its position with regard to the lightsource or filaments will function as a fog protector. If desired thefront face, or both faces of the secondary reflector, may be polished toprovide better reflecting surfaces.

As to the form of Figure 3, the back wall of the headlight casing, thebulb or envelope and the filaments bear the same reference characters asthe form of Figures 1 and, 2. In this figure, the front portion of theglass bulb is flattened as in Figures 1 and 2 and has a combinedsecondary reflector and fog protector cap or plate 24 spaced from theflattened portion of the bulb and secured thereto by a circular wall 26attached to the front portion of the bulb. The cap has a reflector 28 ofprismatic pyramidal design presenting a reflecting surface and a backingmember 29. The cap of this figure is composed of plastic material suchas synthetic or resinous material or it may be made of glass. Eithermaterial may be applied to the conventional bulb by fusing after orduring manufacture.

The constructions shown in Figures 4 and 5 correspond to'those ofFigures 2 and 3, except that the caps are located within the bulb orenvelope. As in Figure 3', the back wall of the casing, the bulb and thefilaments have been given the same reference character as Figures 1 and2.

In Figure 4, a bridge member 30 extends across the front or forwardlyfacing flattened portion 32 and is spaced therefrom. Each side of thebridge member is provided with a plurality of buttons projectingoutwardly therefrom as in the form of Figures 1 and 2. The buttons onthe front side of the plate are shown at 34 and those on the rear sideat 36. As in Figures 1 and 2, the rear side of the bridge member has areflector and fog protector 38. Only the forward face of the reflectorand fog protector may have a reflecting surface, but both sides may havesuch surfaces, if desired.

In Figure 5, the bulb or envelope 6 has a forwardly facing portion 40similar to the forms of Figures 1, 2,3 and 4, and a bridge member 42which has a multi-prismatic pyramidal inner portion 44 Which also forms.the fog protector.

Preferably both the bulbs and the bridge members; of Figures 4 and 5 aremade of glass but it will be understood that any other suitable materialcould be used.

In the form shown in Figure 6, the bulb or envelope 46 is not flattenedas in the other forms and the combined reflector and fog protector 48 issupported in front of the bulb by two supporting arms 50 and. 52,although any suitable number of arms may be used, or a supportingcylinder, not shown, could be substituted for the arms. The reflectorand fog protector of this form may have, either the forward, or both theforward and rearward faces provided with reflecting surfaces. Further,it will be understood that the reflector and fog protector may be madeof glass or plastic materials composed of synthetic resins.

In Figure 7 is shown the symmetrical arrangement of the buttons on theforward face of the cap or plate 14 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thearrangement of the buttons on the rearward face of the plate 14 is thesame as that on the forward face and each button on one side of theplate is in substantially horizontal alignment with a button on theother side of the plate. As clearly shown in Figures 1, 2- and 4, thebuttons are all convex in shape and the radius of curvature of thebuttons on the rearward face of the plate is preferably greater thanthat of the buttons on the forward face.

While the means which connects the plate 14 to the bulb or envelope 6 inFigures 1 and 2 has been described as being a circular wall, it will beunderstood that connecting means in the form of legs fused to the bulbmay be used, if desired.

The above description and drawings disclose several embodiments of theinvention, and specific language has been employed in describing theseveral figures. It will, nevertheless, be understood that nolimitations of the scope of the invention are thereby contemplated, andthat various alterations and modifications may be made such as wouldoccur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. A headlight unit comprising a headlight casing having a front wall, aback wall, and a sealed interior space; the inner surface of said backwall constituting a primary reflecting surface, a lens forming the frontwall of said casing, a transparent hollow bulb supported by said backwall and extending into said space and toward said lens, the front faceof said bulb being spaced from said lens, a source of light within saidbulb, and a secondary reflector and fog protector means supported insaid casing and located between said source of light and said lens, saidmeans being mounted in spaced relation to the front face of said bulb.

2. A headlight unit consisting of a headlight casing with an insideforwardly facing primary reflecting surface, a source of lightcomprising filament means located within said casing, said casing havinga sealed interior space, a lens forming the forwardly facing wall ofsaid casing, a secondary forwardly facing reflector and fog protectormeans located between said source of light and said lens and within saidsealed casing, said secondary reflector and fog protector meansincluding a glass envelope surrounding said filament means, and a caphaving means mounting the same on the exterior surface of said glassenvelope forming part of said fog protector means, said cap being spacedfrom said envelope.

3. A headlight unit consisting of a headlight casing with an insideforwardly facing primary reflecting surface, a source of lightcomprising filament means located within said casing, said casing havinga sealed interior space, a lens forming the forwardly facing wall ofsaid casing, a secondary forwardly facing reflector and fog protectormeans located between said source of light and said lens and within saidsealed casing, said secondary reflector and fog protector meansincluding a glass envelope surrounding said filament means, and a caphaving means mounting the same on the exterior surface of said glassenvelope forming part of said fog protector means, said cap being spacedfrom said envelope and having a plurality of forwardly facing andrearwardly facing buttons, and a reflecting layer covering certain ofsaid buttons.

4. A headlight unit consisting of a headlight casing with an insideforwardly facing primary reflecting surface, a source of lightcomprising filament means located within said casing, said casing havinga sealed interior space, a lens forming the forwardly facing wall ofsaid casing, a secondary forwardly facing reflector and fog protectormeans located between said source of light and said lens and within saidsealed casing, said secondary reflector and fog protector meansincluding a glass envelope surrounding said filament means, and a caphaving means mounting the same on the exterior surface of said glassenvelope forming part of said fog protector means, said cap being spacedfrom said envelope and having a plurality of forwardly facing buttons,and a reflecting layer covering at least some of said rearwardly facingbuttons.

5. A headlight unit consisting of a headlight casing with an insideforwardly facing primary reflecting surface, a source of lightcomprising filament means located within said casing, said casing havinga sealed interior space, a lens forming the forwardly facing wall ofsaid casing, a secondary forwardly facing reflector and fog protectormeans located between said source of light and said lens and within saidsealed casing, said secondary reflector and fog protector meansincluding a glass envelope surrounding said filament means, and a caphaving means mounting the same on the exterior surface of said glassenvelope forming part of said fog protector means, said cap having amulti-prismatic reflecting and fog protecting portion.

6. A headlight unit consisting of a headlight casing with an insideforwardly facing primary reflecting surface, a source of lightcomprising filament means located within said casing, said casing havinga sealed interior space, a lens forming the forwardly facing wall ofsaid casing, a secondary forwardly facing reflector and fog protectormeans located between said source of light and said lens and within saidsealed casing, said secondary reflector and fog protector meansincluding a glass envelope surrounding said filament means, and a bridgeextending across the interior of said glass envelope, forming part ofsaid fog protector means.

7. A headlight unit consisting of a headlight casing, with an insideforwardly facing primary reflecting surface, a source of lightcomprising filament means located within said casing, said casing havinga sealed interior space, a lens forming the forwardly facing wall ofsaid casing, a secondary forwardly facing reflector and fog protectormeans located between said source of light and said lens and within saidsealed casing, said secondary reflector and fog protector meansincluding a glass envelope surrounding said filament means, and a bridgeextending across the interior of said glass envelope, forming part ofsaid fog protector means, said bridge having forwardly and rearwardlyfacing buttons and a reflecting layer covering at least some of saidbuttons.

8. A headlight unit consisting of a headlight casing with an insideforwardly facing primary reflecting surface, a source of lightcomprising filament means located within said casing, said casing havinga sealed interior space, a lens forming the forwardly facing wall ofsaid casing, a secondary forwardly facing reflector and fog protectormeans located between said source of light and said lens and within saidsealed casing, said secondary reflector and fog protector meansincluding a glass envelope surrounding said filament means, and a bridgeextending across the interior of said glass envelope, forming part ofsaid fog protector means, said bridge having a multi-prismaticreflecting and fog protecting portion forming part of said fog protectormeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,226,879 Starn Dec. 31, 1940 2,744,209 Ferguson May 1, 1956 2,744,210Ferguson May 1, 1956

